Watch-key



(No Model.)

G. HOPFMANN.

v WATCH KEY.

NQ. 361,627. Patented Apr. 19, 1887.

ay 1! h M w vtmaooab UNITED STATES PATENT Prion.

GUSTAVUS HOFFMANN, OF LEBANON, ILLINOIS. v

WATC H KEY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 361,627, dated April19, 1887.

Application filed August 23, 1886. Serial No. 211,638. (No model.)

I 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gusrlivus HOFFMANN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lebanon, in the county of St. Clair and State of Illinois,have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in WVatch-Keys, ofwhich-the following is a full, clear, and exact description, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification, and in which Figure 1 is a side view showing thetightening-collar partly raised. Fig. 2 is a like view, looking atanother side of the key, showing the opening and slot, the collar inthis case being shown in section. Fig. 3 is a view like Fig. 2, exceptthe collar is in side view, and is shown in its lower position. Fig. 4is an enlarged detail vertical section taken on line 4 4, Fig. 3. Fig. 5is a horizontal section taken on line 5 5, Fig. 4..

My invention relates to a key adapted for use in winding watches havingarbors of different sizes; and my invention consists in features ofnovelty, hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the claim.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the body of the key, the arborend B of which, at least, is made of metal. The handle end 0 may eitherbe made of metal or wood. I prefer the latter.

The part B is made with an opening, D, extending from near its upper tonear its lower end, between points indicated by the letter I, and fromthe lower end of this opening to the end of the key there is a slit, J,dividing the member B into two parts from the upper end of the opening Ddownward. The two parts when not held together, as shown in Fig. 8, by acollar, L, spring apart, as shown in Fig.

2. Each part of the lower end of the part B is formed by the slit J,provided with a notch, M, (see Fig. 4,) and the two notches fittingtogether form a square to receive the windingarbor of the watch.

lVhen the key is placed on the arbor, it is tightened to fit the arbor,no matter what size the arbor may be, by the sliding collar L, which, onbeing moved from the upper toward the lower end of the part B, closesthe ends formed by the slit J until the arbor is firmly grasped by thekey. The collar would, of course, be moved a less distance for a largethan a small arbor, and it affords a reliable, cheap, and eflectivemeans of fitting the key to different arbors.

To prevent the collar slipping off the key and being lost, and also forthe purpose of keeping it from turning on the key, which would. causethe parts to wear more rapidly, (by the rubbing of them together whenthe collar is turned,) I pass a pin, N, through it that fits in theopening D and prevents the loss or turning of the collar.

It will be seen that there is no chance for dirt or dust to accumulateinthe arbor-socket, which will always remain clean.

I claim as my invention- A watclrkey having a handle and arbor part anda collar part, the arbor part being formed with an opening, D, slit J,and socket M, and the collar being movable on the arbor part, and apin,N, bridging the collar and fitting in the opening D of the arbor part,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

, GUSTAVUS HOFFMANN.

In presence of LoUIs AUSBURG, WILLIAM H. GRAY.

